What mysteries are you reading at the moment? (2022)

[Lady Clementina]

I seem to have been missing all the updates from this thread. Fallen a little behind on my reading so will be starting two of this months reads, the Inspector French book and Ethel Lina White after a couple of days.

[Jill]

Finished Comes a Stranger which I thoroughly enjoyed and now starting The Shortest Way to Hades. I wasn't keen on the first book in this series, but hoping this appeals to me more than the first did.

[Tania]

I finished The Christie Affair which was supposed to be a fictional account of he time Christie went missing, which turned out to have a bit of a murder mystery element to it. It was readable, but very fictional and I think it would have been better if the author hadn't had Agatha Christie as a character and had just given us the story of Nan O'dea, Archie's mistress.

[Jill]

I am now starting In the Fog by Richard Harding Davis. A short mystery written in 1901, about an exclusive men's club in London.

[Marwan]

Finished The New York trilogy by Paul Auster

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Rosina]

I've started my re-read of for the group read.

[Judy]

I'm reading our next Bobby Owen book, Comes a Stranger - I'm about a third of the way through, and so far I'm enjoying it.

[Judy]

Jill wrote: "I am now starting In the Fog by Richard Harding Davis. A short mystery written in 1901, about an exclusive men's club in London."

This sounds interesting - I'll be interested to hear what you think, Jill. I see there is a free Kindle edition. so I have downloaded it.

[Jill]

Judy wrote: "Jill wrote: "I am now starting In the Fog by Richard Harding Davis. A short mystery written in 1901, about an exclusive men's club in London."

This sounds interesti..."

I thought it was a clever, entertaining story. The four men gathered, put together a story, as a delaying tactic. Each adds their part, making it a believable story. I couldn’t help smiling at the final twist. It did make me think that perhaps this was what put the idea of authors each contributing to one story in the minds of the detection club when The Floating Admiral was put together.

[Sandy]

I've returned to an historical series with Falco's daughter, then have a couple of other historical series, (Magic in the Weave and The Betel Nut Tree Mystery) all of which are due back at the library.

On my latest library visit I took out a "blind date" book. The book is wrapped in brown paper with genre and short synopsis, and you discover your reading when you get home. I got The Lost Book of the Grail.

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "I've returned to an historical series with Falco's daughter, then have a couple of other historical series, (Magic in the Weave and The Betel Nut Tree Mystery) all o..."

Oh, that sounds fun, I hope you enjoy your bind date!

I’ve just finished a few books from the library and other groups, I want to start a mystery but couldn’t get the current books the group is doing (the Caudwell book or the #2 Gervase Fen), so I am thinking of starting our next Detection Club book, The Three Taps by Ronald Knox. I can’t find an audiobook, and the summary says it’s a complex story of insurance fraud, so figured I’d allow for a slow read!

[Lady Clementina]

I'm half way through Fear Stalks the Village and enjoying it so far. Liking the humour a lot.

[Susan]

I have a few mysteries on the go, including some group books and I am also reading Murder Superior (Gregor Demarkian #8 the latest in my personal re-read of the Gregor Demarkian series.

[Colin]

I just finished Magpie Murders, which I'd wanted to read for a long time.
I'm not sure how I feel about it, the central conceit of a story within a story is interesting if nothing else but it means the book is longer than I normally like. I suppose I could say there's half a good book there.
I liked the Atticus Pund section and felt the mystery was well constructed there and would have been happy to read that alone. The Susan Ryeland stuff didn't work so well for me though - I thought the mystery pretty obvious and I never had any doubt about the culprit. The Ryeland character herself didn't grab me either and while I'll probably try the follow-up book (I have it on Kindle after all) the prospect of even more of the sub Shirley Valentine tripe that I reckon serves only to inflate the page count is not something I look forward to.

[Roman Clodia]

Colin wrote: "I just finished Magpie Murders, which I'd wanted to read for a long time."

Interestingly, I was the opposite in that I enjoyed the Susan Ryeland story but found the inset Atticus Pund book laboured and wooden - I felt the same with the follow-up too. I'd agree about the length of the book... but for different reasons to you, Colin :)

[Judy]

Jill, good to hear you enjoyed In the Fog - I will hope to get to it before too long.

I've just finished Blood on the Tracks: Railway Mysteries, which I thought was a very good anthology leaving me want to explore some of the writers further.

I've also finished our next Bobby Owen book, Comes a Stranger and enjoyed that one a lot too. I had been disappointed by the previous two books in the series and was thinking of giving up on it, but this one has rekindled my interest.

Now on to another buddy read, The Shortest Way to Hades by Sarah Caudwell.

[Judy]

Colin and RC, I really enjoyed both parts of Magpie Murders but, as far as I remember, had one or two gripes about the plot which just knocked it down from 5* to 4* for me. (I'll say no more to avoid spoilers!) I'm hoping to watch the new series on BritBox soon - it is partly set in Suffolk but I see it was actually filmed in Dublin.

P.S. I've been meaning to read the sequel, and also to try Horowitz's Sherlock Holmes novels.

[Colin]

By the way, I saw a few photos from the new TV adaptation and was puzzled by some of the casting choices. The actress playing Susan Ryeland is at least 20 years too old and looks it.

[Colin]

I've made a start on Helen Reilly's The Dead Can Tell

This is the first book by Reilly that I've tried, although I have read a number by her daughter Ursula Curtiss.

[Tracey]

I'm reading Magpie Murders too. It's been on my tbr list for ages, now the TV adaption is available this has prompted me to read it. I'm a big fan of Lesley Manville so looking forward to watching it, after I finish the book.

[Jill]

Just starting The Three Taps: A Detective Story Without a Moral

[Susan in NC]

Jill wrote: "Just starting The Three Taps: A Detective Story Without a Moral"

Finished The Three Taps yesterday, starting Untrue till Death byGraham Brack tonight. I very much enjoyed the first in the series, hope this one is as good.

[Susan]

I loved Magpie Murders, but prefer the Hawthorne and Horowitz series more - can't wait for the latest in the series this summer: The Twist of a Knife

Magpie Murders is currently 99p is anyone is interested in reading it.

[Judy]

No less than 4 buddy reads are now open for discussion! You are all welcome to join in.

Here are links to the non-spoiler threads:

Holy Disorders by Edmund Crispin:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The Shortest Way to Hades by Sarah Caudwell:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The Deadly Joker by Nicholas Blake:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Comes a Stranger by E.R. Punshon:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Sandy]

Susan in NC wrote: "Jill wrote: "Just starting The Three Taps: A Detective Story Without a Moral"

Finished The Three Taps yesterday, starting Untrue till Death[bookcover..."

I added [book:Untrue till Death|53136015] to my February reading list as it qualifies for a challenge in another group and has been on my TBR since I read the first months ago. Hope I get to it.

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Jill wrote: "Just starting The Three Taps: A Detective Story Without a Moral"

Finished The Three Taps yesterday, starting [book:Untrue till Death..."

I hope you enjoy it! I’m enjoying the humor so far, only about 30 pages in, but glad Mercurius is still an engaging character.

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "No less than 4 buddy reads are now open for discussion! You are all welcome to join in.

Here are links to the non-spoiler threads:

Holy Disorders by Edmund Crispin:
https://www.goodreads.com/topi..."

Hey Judy, thanks for the reminder, afraid I won’t be taking part as I couldn’t find the first three among my usual sources (library, Scribd, etc), and am trying not to purchase anymore books at present, unless they’re favorite authors or series. I can get the Bobby Owen series, but have only read the first, and wasn’t really engrossed (don’t remember much).

[Jill]

Finished The Three Taps: A Detective Story Without a Moral which I found very entertaining. Now starting The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches The Flavia buddy read

[Sid]

Just started The Shortest Way to Hades. Love the first few pages - that narrative voice is brilliant!

[Susan in NC]

Just starting my reread (relisten) of The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches for our upcoming Flavia Buddy read.

[Jan C]

Finished Laura by Vera Caspary. It is a little different from the movie. Enjoy them both.

[Susan]

I have just finished Death In Soho and have also started The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches. Reviews susggest a change of direction for the series - I haven't read this far before, but would readers of the series think this a positive change? Just curious.

[Jill]

Finished The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches and am now starting The Pilgrim of Hate our next Cadfael book.

[Susan in NC]

Susan wrote: "I have just finished Death In Soho and have also started The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches. Reviews susggest a change of direction for the series - I haven't read thi..."

I remember vaguely, from my original read of the series, I don’t think the change in direction was popular, but I didn’t mind it. I’m enjoying my reread of the series, I read them so quickly back then, I missed things.

I’m almost midway through both Vaulted Arches and Untrue till Death and enjoying them both, but the political situation in 17th century Netherlands is rather Byzantine, to say the least! Learning about William of Orange, which is interesting.

[Roman Clodia]

I think the change of direction sounds intriguing but I'm not sure I've read past Vaulted Arches. Which probably isn't a very helpful comment ;)

[Susan]

Well, I shall just have to wait and see then!

I finished Murder Superior (Gregor Demarkian #8 and Jane Haddam remains a firm favourite. Might re-read The Cuckoo's Calling, Vol. 1 next as I read the first in the series and never continued.

[Icewineanne]

Roman Clodia wrote: "I think the change of direction sounds intriguing but I'm not sure I've read past Vaulted Arches. Which probably isn't a very helpful comment ;)"

Book #6 in the wonderful Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley

[Jill]

Susan wrote: "Well, I shall just have to wait and see then!

I finished Murder Superior (Gregor Demarkian #8 and Jane Haddam remains a firm favourite. Might re-read [book:The Cuckoo's Calling, Vo..."

Yes I did that. Annoying isn't it. I think they have even shown a TV series of them.

[Gary]

Less than 30 pages to go in Death of a Perfect Wife by M.C. Beaton Book 4 of the Hamish Macbeth series.

[Franky]

Currently reading Black Rain Falling by Jacob Ross.

[Colin]

I'm back for another visit to the brownstone and having a most satisfactory time with Rex Stout's Homicide Trinity

[Sandy]

Colin wrote: "I'm back for another visit to the brownstone and having a most satisfactory time with Rex Stout's Homicide Trinity "

I don't manage to visit as often as I would like. I find the three novellas in one book a perfect length.

[Susan in NC]

Just starting The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden , which I borrowed from my library, and a reread of Georgette Heyer’s Behold, Here's Poison for our upcoming group read.

[Judy]

I've started our next challenge read, The Three Taps: A Detective Story Without a Moral by Ronald Knox.

I was tempted to buy it from Google Play Books, as I had some credit there from doing surveys - however, I found that almost all the punctuation had somehow been stripped out, making it unreadable, so I returned it for a refund! I've now bought the Amazon Kindle edition, which seems to be fine. Very odd as both editions are published by The Murder Room.

[Jill]

Now starting Death of Riley by Rhys Bowen I liked the first book so decided to read on with the second

[Sid]

I've just skimmed to the end of Hot Water by Christopher Fowler. A big disappointment after the brilliant Bryant & May books - just a rather slow, run-of-the-mill Tense Psychological Thriller, which isn't a genre I like much. Shame. My review, if anyone's interested: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I've now started Murder in Vienna by E.C.R. Lorac and quite enjoyed the first 25% or so.

[Susan]

I'm reading The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches (not a favourite in the series for me so far), The Club (good fun) and The Cuckoo's Calling (a mystery I loved when I first read it, but a series I didn't continue)

[Sandy]

Susan wrote: "I'm reading The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches (not a favourite in the series for me so far), The Club (good fun) and The Cuckoo's Calling (a mystery I..."

I love the Cuckoo's Calling series, but you should plan for some long reads. The books, like Harry Potter, grow longer and longer.

[Lynnie]

I have just finished These Names Make Clues by E.C.R. Lorac which I enjoyed a lot and am now reading Two-Way Murder - also enjoying.

[books]

Tempted to reread Michael Innes An Awkward Lie